Jeff Carr made a good first impression as coach of the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey team, good enough to merit a contract extension.

Ice Bears president and general manager Mike Murray announced a three-year extension for Carr on Thursday. In Carr's first season, Knoxville went 30-20-6 in the Southern Professional Hockey League and reached the semifinals of the President's Cup playoffs. The team finished the season with 11 rookies on the roster.

"Jeff has brought a wealth of professionalism to the organization and created a culture which demands a fast, physical and entertaining brand of hockey our fans have come to expect," Murray said in a team release. "Most commendable is the quality of players Jeff has recruited to represent our brand, both on the ice and in the Knoxville community."

Carr, who is from Eagle River, Wisc., was named the Ice Bears coach last June. He came to Knoxville after a season as an assistant coach with the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies.

"The 2018-19 season will stand on three pillars: fierce aggression and combative physicality on the ice, sound operational decisions and our incredible community," Carr said in the release. "The city and our fans are the crown jewel of the league, and we will give back what we can to those who give so much to our team."